Exploring Sedona: The Best Day Trip from Your Arizona Vacation Rental

No Arizona vacation is complete without a day trip to Sedona — and at just two hours from Gilbert and Mesa, it's the perfect adventure from your LoveYourVacationRental.com vacation home. Sedona's iconic red rock formations, spiritual energy vortexes, and charming arts community make it one of the most spectacular destinations in the American Southwest.

Getting There and Planning Your Day

The drive from the East Valley to Sedona is scenic in itself, especially if you take the Beeline Highway through the Tonto National Forest. Leave early — by 7 AM if possible — to maximize your time and beat the crowds at popular trailheads. Pack a cooler with lunch and plenty of water; while Sedona has great restaurants, a picnic among the red rocks is an unforgettable experience.

Must-See Stops for Families

Start at the Sedona Visitor Center for maps and current trail conditions. Cathedral Rock is the most photographed formation, and the viewpoint from Back O'Beyond Road is accessible without hiking. For families with older kids, the Cathedral Rock Trail is a challenging but rewarding scramble to the saddle. Slide Rock State Park offers natural rock water slides that kids absolutely love — bring water shoes and arrive before 10 AM in summer.

Vortex Sites

Sedona is famous for its energy vortexes — places where the earth's energy is believed to be particularly strong. Whether you're spiritual or skeptical, the vortex sites at Airport Mesa, Bell Rock, and Boynton Canyon offer some of the best hiking and views in Sedona. Even young children can handle the short trail to the Airport Mesa viewpoint.

Shopping and Dining in Sedona

Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village is a beautiful open-air market with galleries, shops, and restaurants set in a hacienda-style complex. It's a wonderful place to browse after a morning of hiking. For lunch, try Elote Cafe for incredible Mexican-inspired cuisine or Creekside Coffee for a casual bite with creek views.

After a full day exploring Sedona's wonders, you'll be grateful to return to the comfort of your Arizona vacation rental — feet up by the pool, watching the sunset paint the sky in the same warm reds you admired in Sedona's rocks.